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Takeaways from Toronto Raptors devastating loss to San Antonio Spurs

By Thomas Valentine

WASHINGTON, DC -  JANUARY 12: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors on January 12, 2020 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  JANUARY 12: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors on January 12, 2020 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Spurs win the battle of the benches

Nick Nurse ran a 10-man rotation against the Spurs, with five players coming off the bench in different spells, hoping to impact the game for the Raptors. Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be the case.

The Spurs bench did the business against the Raptors on Sunday night, with Rudy Gay, Derrick White, and Patty Mills all shining in reserve roles for Gregg Popovich. Outscoring the Raptors bench 48-24, the Spurs bench dominated the game and helped force them into a winning position in the fourth quarter.

Marco Belinelli, who only played in 11 minutes of action, missed two three-pointers before coming up with a clutch triple late in the fourth quarter to aide the Spurs hopes of coming away with a win that would keep their playoff hopes alive.

The San Antonio Spurs second-unit has been one of the most productive in the league so far this season, averaging 44.9 points per game, shooting 45-percent from the field and 37-percent from three. This is nothing new from the Spurs, and the Raptors second unit just couldn’t handle the onslaught.

Patrick McCaw led all Raptors bench players in minutes in this game, playing in 19 minutes of action, while Terence Davis only featured in 12 minutes. In fairness, Davis went scoreless from the field in that time.

Overall, the Raptors bench just didn’t have it while the Spurs bench was superb.

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